Coil cleaning method



Feb. 13, 19400 G. M. GUMP COIL CLEANING METHOD Filed Nov. 5, 1938INVENTOR Gearye M 6002 0 'ATTO E Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED "STATESPATENT QFFIICE I e assesso p i COIL GLEANINGMETHOD GeorgeltLGump,Cincinnati, Ohio I i Application November 5, 1938; Serial N0 239,090" 72 Claims. (01. 225-12 This invention relatesto the cleaning olf coilsand pipes and more in particular to an improved method for cleaning beercoils. e

An object of the invention is to provide a compact, portable coilcleaning apparatus having a minimum of moving parts.

A further object of the invention is to disclose a new and improvedmethod of thoroughlyand quickly rinsing out the interior of coils andpipes.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a compressor unitwhich will continuously providequantities of rinse solution havingadmixed therewith quantities of gas for producing a frothy rinsesolution. e

These and other objects are attained by the means disclosed herein andshown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of atypical coil cleaning set up embodyinga compressor made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the compressorunit shown inFig. 1.

It has long been customary to clean beer coils either by passing livesteam through said coils or by forcing a suitable chemical solutionthrough said coils, however, cleaning with steam has the greatdisadvantage of being dangerous to persons because of its inherentqualities. Steam is also undesirablebecause of the latent heattransferred from the steam to the coils and pipes during the cleaningoperation which results in overtaxing of the cooling system when beerisreintroduced into the hot lines and coils The present invention isconcerned with an improvement in the method of cleaning beer coils bythe so-called chemical method in which the coils are cleaned by theaction of suitable chemicals in solution which are circulatedthrough'said coils. 1

In a typical dispensing set up, as shown in Fig. 1, beer is drawn from abarrel or other suitable container l0 through valve H, coupling |2, pipeit, through floor l4, through cooling coil A and thence to a dispensingfaucet l5. A suitable drain pan It may be disposed below the faucet tocatch faucet drippings which in turn are collected and conducted to asewer by means of a suitable pipe as ll. In a like manner the contentsof container l8 'may be drawn through valve l9, coupling 20,

pipe 2| to cooling coil B, thence pensing faucet 22. v i

It should be understood that it is customary to provide suitablerefrigeration means, not shown, around cooling coils A and: Bio!chilling out throughdisthe contentsof said coils prior to beingdischarged through faucets I5 and 22;, This system, except for slightmodifications comprisesa standard beer dispensinginstallation;

Due to the inherent chemical qualities of beer it-is mandatory,for'sanitary reasons; to periodically cleanse the coils and pipesthrough which the beer is drawn. When the chemical method is employed tocleanse the coils and pipes it becomes necessary to provide a" pump toproperly circulate the chemical cleaningsolution through the pipescomprising the system. e I

The pump unit of the present invention com prises a. diaphragmtypecompressor 23 driven by a suitableelec'tric motor 24 by means of belting25., As clearlyshown inFig. 2 compressor 23 comprises an upper section2! and a lower section 26 secured together by any suitable means suchasbolts 28. Thelower section 26 houses an eccentric. 29, which when drivenby suitable m'eans,

through strap 30 to connecting rod 30. The free end of connecting rod:30terminates in an annular plate33, which is secured to a flexiblediaphragm 3| by-meansof screw 32 which tightly secures plates 33 and 34.to opposite sides of said diaphragm as shown. Diaphragm 3| may be'of rnot shown, imparts a. reciprocating l motion'.

chamber 4| terminating ina gas tight and fluid by the action of a spring46 which is maintained in place byan apertured plug 41. A pipe 48 connects theinteri'or of plug 4'|to intake pipe 40, as clearly shown. Thissafety valve permits. the medium housed within chamber 4| to by-pass'back to the intake linejwhenever the pressure within chamber 4| exceedsthe counter "pressure ofispring, whereby damage to the compressor or topipe lines being cleaned, is prevented.

A suitableannular gasket 49' may be interposed stopped. I

between flange 36 of dome 31 and flange 50 of housing 43 to prevent anyleakage from chamber 4|.

Discharge pipe 42 comprises a T fitting, having a valve 5| interposed inleg 52 as shown.

A diaphragm compressor as described is utilized for cleaning coils A andB and piping I3 and 2| in the following manner, reference being had toFi 1.

The following hose connections arc made prior to the start of thecleaning operation: Ahose 53 is connected to intake pipe 40'; one end ofa hose 54 is connected to discharge pipe 42 the other end terminating ina faucet cup 55 which is adapted to fit over the end of a faucet 2|.5'asshown.--

(see broken line I); a third hose v56 connects leg 52 of the T dischargepipe 42 to a suitable" water supply tap T. The. free end of intake hose:53 is positioned as shown by broken lines 55 so that the compressor willpump air. After these preliminary connections have been made the valve5| is closed and the motor 24is started whereby compressed air isdelivered viahose 54 to faucet l5. Faucet I5 is then opened with theresult that any fluid in coil A andline I3 is forced back into containerI0 by the compressed air. When the fluid in line |3 has all been thuslypumped into container H1, faucet I5 is closed. Faucet cup 55 is thenplaced uponfaucet 22 and the process is repeated, whereby the contentsofcoil B and line 2| are pumped back'into container I8. If desired, thepump maynow be Valves I and I9 are then closed and-pipes I3 and 2|disconnected therefrom at couplings I2 and 20 respectively after whichthe ends of said pipes are connected together to form a complete circuitwith faucet l5 at one end and faucet 22 at the other end. Faucet -|5isxopened, then faucet 22 is opened followed by the opening of valves 5|and 51 in order. This permits the hydrant water to course through faucet22, coil B, pipe 2 I, pipe l3 through 0011A and out through faucet I5whereby the beer foam and other unde-. sirable substances in said coilsand pipes is rinsed out. This flushing action is continued until onlyclear water is discharged through faucet "|5,"at which time valves 51and 5| are closed.-

Motor 24 is then started and only air is pumped, whereby the water inchamber 4I'and in coils A and B and lines 2| and I3 is blown out throughI a, suitableperiod oftime, after which. the end faucet l5. By reasonofthe fact that the end of discharge pipe 42 te'rminatesclose to thebottom of chamber 4|, practically all ofthe'liquid in said chamber isexhausted before any air can be discharged, and likewise thisconstruction traps a certain amount of air in the top of said chamberwhen a liquid is being pumped:

After all the water thusly has been discharged from the pipe lines aswill'be evidenced when air is discharged from open faucet I5, the'end ofintake hose 53 is placed into a bucket 66 contain-' ing a suitablechemical cleansing and sterilizing solutionsee broken lines 59. Thisprocess is continued until the chemical solution is discharged throughfaucet |5 at which timethe free end of the intake hose 53 is secured tofaucet I5 whereby the chemical solution is caused to circulate throughthe coils and associated pipes for of inlet hose 53 isremoved fromfaucet I5and positioned asat 58 whereby air is pumped through the systemuntil all of the chemical solution has been exhausted from the lines.Said chemical ..1iver a frothy solution of air and water as long asdesired. It is this ability to continuously de- .-'liverr'a frothysolution of air and water under pressure that results in the pumpbecoming an invaluable asset to those industries in which coils andpipesare to be cleaned.

After this flushing operation has been completedthe valves 5| and 57 areclosed whereupon only air is pumped through the system, which blows .allof the water out of the coils and pipes. The'pump is then stopped,faucets l5 and 22 closed, the pipes I3 and 2| are disconnected andreconnected to couplings I2 and 20 respectively, valves II and i9opened, discharge hoses 54 and 5B disconnected from faucet 22 and tap-5'| respectively and the system is once again ready for. dispensation ofthe contents of containers I0 and I8... I-t is tobe understood thatdiaphragm compressor 23 and motor 24 may be mounted upon asuitableportable standard as 6| whereby said unit is rendered portable.

It should here be noted that it is characteristic of a diaphragm typecompressor to build up a substantially constant pressure in pressurechamber 4|, but said pressure is characterized by rapid pulsations setup by the operation of diaphragm 3|. These rapid pulsations inconjunctionqwith the comparatively constant pressure within chamber 4|causes any suitable gaseous substance, such as air, to be forced intothe fluid stream supplied through T pipe 52 as tiny globules or bubbleswhereby a frothy solution results comprising an admixture of gasparticles and fluid. Such a gas should be substantially non soluble inthe fluid used in order that the frothy condition will continue as longas the solution is confined within the coils or conduits. Likewise itistdesirable that the gas used be substantially inert under theconditions encountered during the cleaning process in order that noharmful results 1 will follow such operation.

The process as. described greatly speeds up the usual process of rinsingwithout sacrificing thoroughness since the minute gas particles tend toscour the tube walls whereby the particles loosed by the chemicalsolution are dislodged and are carried in suspension through said linesby the fluidwhereu'pon-a better job of rinsing is accomplished than ispossible with either water or the gas alone.

wItshould be understood that an admixture of air and water has beenreferred to in the specification merely for the purpose of illustrationand I d'o not Wish to limit myself to these two substances sincenumerous other liquids and gases may be substituted within the scope ofthe appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l'. The method of flushing and cleaning beer dispensing coil systems andtheir faucets, which methodcomprises the steps of connecting one end ofthe coil system to a fresh water supply and pumping water therefromthrough the system to initially flush it, then draining thesystern ofthe flush Water, then connecting the ends of the coil system to furnisha closed circuit, and injecting and circulating a chemical cleanerwithin the system,-then drainingthe system of the chemical cleaner, andthereafter filling the system with rinse Water and circulating saidrinse v system. i

2. The method of flushing and cleaning beer dispensing coil systems andtheir faucets, which method comprises the steps of connecting one end ofthe coil system to a fresh water supply and pumping water therefromthrough the system to initially flush it, then draining the system ofthe flush water, then connecting the ends of the coil system to furnisha closed circuit, and

injecting and circulating a liquid chemical cleaner Within the systemwith the aid of air under pressure delivered thereinto in sharp andsudden high-speed pulsations for breaking up the column of liquid in thesystem at infinitesimally small intervals, thereby to impart a scouringeffect to the frothy admixture of liquid and air in the system, thendraining the system of the chemical cleaner, then filling, the systemwith rinse water and circulating said rinse water through the system,and thereafter draining the system. t i

. GEORGE M. GUMP.

